Eremophila plant named ‘EREM1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Eremophila glabra  cultivar named ‘EREM1’ which is characterized by a prostrate growth habit with a vigorous growth rate, silver ovate foliage, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Eremophila glabra.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Eremophila glabradisclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘EREM1’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeder'sRights application number 2015/146, filed on Jun. 15 2015, which isherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘EREM1’ is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of alow-growing Eremophila glabra plant (unnamed and unpatented) which wasdiscovered in September of 2013 by the inventor at his commercialnursery in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. In 2012, the parentplant was asexually reproduced by way of stem cuttings. Of the resultingplants, one plant in particular exhibited improved plant vigor and aprostrate growth habit. The new plant was isolated and grown to a maturesize to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristicsinitially observed. After further evaluation and confirmation of thedesirable traits, the claimed plant was selected for commercializationand given the breeder denomination, ‘EREM1’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘EREM1’ was first asexually reproduced by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings in 2013 at the inventor's nursery in Clarendon,New South Wales, Australia. It was found to grow uniform and reproducein a stable manner and 5 successive cycles of vegetative propagationhave proven to be true to type also.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed andrepresent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Eremophilacultivar ‘EREM1’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘EREM1’ as anew and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. ‘EREM1’ exhibits a short plant height and prostrate growth        habit; and    -   2. ‘EREM1’ exhibits a very vigorous rate of growth; and    -   3. ‘EREM1’ exhibits foliage with a silver appearance; and    -   4. ‘EREM1’ exhibits obovate foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 1 year old‘EREM1’ plant grown outdoors in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary flower of a 1year old ‘EREM1’ plant grown outdoors in Clarendon, New South Wales,Australia.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, a stem and foliagecomparison between a 1 year old ‘EREM1’ plant, on the left, and a‘Kalbarri Carpet’ (unpatented) plant of similar age, both grown outdoorsin Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Eremophila ornamental plant known as ‘EREM1’. Plantobservations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, New South Wales,Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed hereinare based upon observations made from 1 year old mature ‘EREM1’ plantsgrown outdoors in full sun. Plants were fertilized with a slow releasegranular fertilizer product and were periodically watered with overheadirrigation, as needed. No pest and disease measures were taken.Observation data was recorded in the June of 2016.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘EREM1’ has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition except where commonterms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘EREM1’ and comparisons with the presumedparents are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Prostrate; spreading.        -   Height.—Approximately 200 to 250 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 700 mm.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 9.        -   Environmental tolerances.—‘EREM1’ has not yet been observed            under all conditions but has shown to be heat tolerant,            adapting well to temperatures of 112 degrees Fahrenheit            without any noticeable damage. It has survived light frosts            and temperatures down to 23 degrees Fahrenheit.        -   Drought tolerance.—‘EREM1’ has not yet been observed under            all conditions but it has shown good drought tolerance            typical of the species once established.        -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—No known            pests.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using softwood stem            cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—4 to 5 weeks.        -   Crop time.—From 8 to 10 weeks are needed to produce a fully            rooted cutting and 30 weeks to produce a marketable plant in            a 140 mm nursery pot, depending on geographic location.-   Root system:    -   -   Description.—Dicotyledonous with a tap root system. From            cuttings the roots are adventitious with one or two becoming            somewhat like a true tap root in function. Roots are white,            smooth and branching.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Trunk — Single main trunk branching            numerous times above the ground. Diameter — To approximately            15 mm. Color — Light brown (no corresponding R.H.S. color).            Texture — Minor fissures. Secondary stems — Stem strength —            Medium. Diameter — Intermediate stems to 8 mm; young stems 2            to 4 mm. Cross-section — Circular. Internode length — 3 mm.            Number of stems — 17. Stem angle to main axis —            Approximately 45 degrees. Basal stem color (hair removed) —            RHS N144C. Young shoot stem color (hair removed) — RHS            N144C. Texture — Densely pubescent.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptical.        -   Length.—Approximately 45 mm.        -   Width.—15 mm.        -   Thickness.—0.5 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and pubescence, adaxial surface.—Finely and densely            pubescent.        -   Texture and pubescence, abaxial surface.—Finely and densely            pubescent.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — RHS 191A.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — RHS 191A. Mature            foliage, adaxial surface — RHS 189A. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — RHS 189A.        -   Venation.—Pattern — Only the main vein is visible. Vein            color, adaxial surface — RHS 190B. Vein color, abaxial            surface — RHS 190B.        -   Petiole.—None; leaves sessile.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Solitary flowers occurring at the leaf axils.-   Bud:    -   -   Dimensions.—Approximately 15 mm long and 8 mm in diameter.        -   Shape.—Blunt, pointed tube extending from the calyx as it            matures.        -   Color, upper surface.—RHS 165B.        -   Color, lower surface.—RHS 153A.        -   Rate of opening.—Slow to medium.-   Flower:    -   -   General description.—Zygomorphic, tubular flower comprised            of a corolla tube and four dorsal petal lobes and one longer            ventral lobe. Solitary flowers occurring within the foliage.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early winter in Clarendon, New            South Wales, Australia.        -   Bloom habit.—Moderately floriferous.        -   Abundance of flowers.—Very abundant.        -   Lastingness.—5 days.        -   Persistence.—Not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.        -   Aspect.—Horizontal.        -   Pedicels.—Attitude, relative to stems — Semi-erect;            approximately 45 degrees. Dimensions — 3 to 5 mm long and 1            mm wide. Color — RHS 191A. Texture and pubescence — Finely            and densely pubescent. Strength — Strong.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals — 5 fused tepals. Arrangement —            Fused into a lobed tube. Dimensions — 5 mm wide and 8 mm            long, including the sepal lobes. Sepal lobe apex — Acute.            Sepal lobe margin — Entire; finely and densely pubescent.            Texture, inner and outer surfaces — Finely and densely            pubescent. Color when opening, inner surface — RHS 191A.            Color when opening, outer surface — RHS 191A. Color when            fully open, inner surface — RHS 191A. Color when fully open,            outer surface — RHS 191A.        -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals — Five. Arrangement — Fused into            a curved tube with five free lobes: four dorsal lobes and            one ventral lobe transformed into a lip. Dorsal lobes are            approximately 4 mm long and the ventral lip is 10 mm.            Dimensions — 22 mm long and 10 mm in diameter. Petal lobe            apex — Acute. Petal lobe margin — Entire. Texture, inner and            outer surfaces — Finely and densely pubescent. Color when            opening, inner surface — RHS 20A. Color when opening, outer            surface — RHS 20A. Color when fully open, dorsal surface —            31A. Color when fully open, ventral surface — 20A. Petal            color fading to — RHS 31A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Four. Position — Exserted; at anthesis,            the stamens exceed the length of the corolla. Overall length            — 30 mm long. Filament — Dimensions — 30 mm long and 0.5 mm            in diameter. Color — RHS 20A. Anthers — Shape — Round and            flattened. Diameter — 1 mm in diameter and 0.25 mm thick.            Color — RHS 177A. Pollen — Low to medium. Pollen Color —            White (no corresponding R.H.S. color).        -   Pistils.—Quantity — One pistil which extends beyond the            corolla at anthesis. Stigma — Shape — Globular. Dimensions —            Less than 1 mm in diameter. Color — Yellow (no corresponding            R.H.S. color). Style — Shape — Slightly curved towards the            distal end. Dimensions — 40 mm long and less than 1 mm wide.            Color — RHS 18C. Ovary — Position — Superior. Dimensions —            1.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. Color — 20A.-   Fruit and seed:    -   -   Fruit.—Type — Semi-succulent. Shape — Ovoid. Dimensions —            Approximately 8 mm in diameter. Texture — Smooth to finely            and sparsely hairy. Color — RHS 166D at maturity.        -   Seed.—Quantity — Usually two per fruit. Shape — Flattened            ovoid with a slightly textured surface. Dimensions — 3 mm            long and 1 mm in diameter. Color — RHS 163C.-   Comparison with the parent: ‘EREM1’ may be distinguished from the    parent, a low-growing Eremophila glabra plant (unnamed and    unpatented), by the general plant height and plant vigor. Plants of    ‘EREM1’ are very vigorous and exhibit a very short plant height,    whereas the parent plant exhibits a medium to tall plant height and    are less vigorous.-   Comparisons with the closest known variety: ‘EREM1’ may be    distinguished from its closest know commercial comparator,    Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ (unpatented) by the following    combination of characteristics: 1. EREM1’ grows to approximately 200    to 250 mm tall, whereas ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ grows to approximately 150    mm tall. 2. The leaves of ‘EREM1’ are of short to medium length with    an obovate shape, whereas leaves of ‘Kalbarri Carpet’ are of medium    to long length and lanceolate. 3. The stem internodes of ‘EREM1’ are    shorter than those of ‘Kalbarri Carpet.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Eremophilaglabra plant named ‘EREM1’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.